How to capture fireworks?

[troytime]

This will be my first time photographing fireworks, what settings will work best?

I'm assuming long exposure, but what aperture? what ISO?

Should i concern myself with white balance or anything?

I know that i'll be needing my tripod

UPDATE:
many good shots tonight
http://troytime.com/fireworks.jpg
http://troytime.com/fireworks2.jpg
http://troytime.com/fireworks3.jpg

I'll add more as i sort and process!

Everyone post yours!

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

This was actually sent to me in an Adorama newsletter thingy

http://www.adorama.com/catalog...=063006&op=academy_new

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.calphoto.com/firework.htm

 

[ProfJohn]

One great thing about living in Orlando is fireworks every night
one
That was my D70s with the 18-70mm set at 18. 5 second exposure at f22
two
that was 1/5 second at f3.5
three
1/25s at 5.0

Looking at those you can see that you don't need overly long exposures to get good stuff.
I think the longer ones are too 'busy'
I also think fireworks pics look better on film, if I had my film ones scanned I could show you.

 

[Bowfinger]

Bump, great thread. Fireworks are tricky to shoot; the links above should be really helpful. Maybe the mods could sticky this until after the 4th.

 

[Jawo]

If the fireworks are being launched fast enough and you are close, I have been able to get away with fast shutter speeds on a p&s. Otherwise the tripod is the only way to go.

 

[dartworth]

http://www.nikonians.org/html/...eworks/fireworks1.html

http://www.nikonians.org/dcfor...orumID201/16094.html#0

http://www.nyip.com/ezine/holidays/digfirewks.html

 

[Bowfinger]

Bump. More great links added.

 

[troytime]

Thanks to all the information and tips provided, i scored several great shots tonight.

While they may not have the mega WOW factor, i'm happy with them - as this is the first time i've successfully captured fireworks.

first one processed: (cropped, resized)
http://troytime.com/fireworks.jpg

 

[troytime]

http://troytime.com/fireworks2.jpg
http://troytime.com/fireworks3.jpg

 

[dartworth]

#3 is nice...:thumbsup:

 

[troytime]

finally posted another

 

[ElFenix]

my fireworks pics all turned out a bit smoky and i was too far away for the lenses at my disposal (i'm seeing a 70-200 in my future). i also appear to need a remote release. or maybe the parking garage i was on was vibrating a bit.

not sure if i could have remedied the smokiness by being in a different location. the wind wasn't blowing much and there were an ungodly amount of pyrotechnics in use. not just one shell at a time, usually 2 or 3 with fountains going off at the same time. for 25 minutes. my clearest shots, in terms of smoke, were hand-held for the country club that lights it's fireworks off just before the city does.

 

[yhelothar]

This is how you capture fireworks